Fork or tongs.



E. F. RUECKERT.

FORK 0R TONGS. ,APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, I915.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

' WITNESSES.-

Al/amey an Tans nan oron,

ERNEST r. aunoxnmfor-rnovrn'nnon, RHODE ISLAND.

FORK OR TONGS.

Application filed May 20,1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST F. RUECKERT, citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented anew and useful Fork or Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in forks or tongs, and more particularly that type of tongs to be used for lifting articles, such as sugar, pickles, olives and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide novel means for fastening the spring to the tube or casing so as to dispense with the use of solder in the construction of the tongs.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

It is to be understood that many slight changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the several parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and hence I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction herein set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view partly in-elevation and partly in section of the invention. Fig; 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the manner of mounting the spring, and its connection to the rod and to the tubularcasing. Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. at is a perspective view of the plug or bushing; and Fig. 5 1s a detail perspective view of an'endof the tubular casing.

A represents the tube or casing in which a rod 1 is slidably mounted. This tube or casing is split along one side as shown in Fig. 1, the meeting edges of the split portion coming together in a close joint, but not soldered. One terminal of the rod is provided with a'slot 3 for supporting the flexible jaws 2. The jaws 2 are preferably made from a single piece of material and are sup-- ported at their inner ends by the looped or slotted end 3 of the rod, the jaws being connected to the rod by passing one of the jaws through the loop 3. The outer ends of the jaws are preferably bowed, as at 4, so that the jaws cannot be draw-n entirely within the tubular casing A, but as the jaws are drawn into the casing the bowed faces of the jaws will be drawn together for clamping or grasping the article therebetween.

Specification of Letters Patent.

{Patented Jan. 11, 1916..

Serial No. 29,380.

A plug or bushing 5 is mounted in the tube through which the rod 1 moves and is guided in its movements. The plug 5 is provided with a head or flange 6 which extends over the upper end of the tube for insuring the maintenance of the plug in the tube. One side or wall of the plug 5 is cut away to produce a straight or fiat surface 7, for forming a spacebetween the plug and the inner wall of the tube.

A coil spring 8 is connected to the rod 1 by wrapping one .end of the wire closely and tightly to the rod. The other terminal of the spring extends into the space formed between the plug 5 and the casing and is then bent at right angles, as at 9. The bent terminal 9 of the spring is received in a recess 10, formed in the tube A, thereby lockmg the spring to the casing and rod. The plug 5 will be forced into position after the spring has been inserted in the slot or recess 10. I

A ring or disk 11 is mounted upon the tube and is provided with an annular flange 12 wh ch is spun or, caused to frictionally engage the wall of the tube for closing the recess 10. The disk is further maintained n place by the head 6 of the-plug 5 which engages the. upper'surface of the disk orv ring.

tongs are placed about the article to be grasped the thumb can be removed from the knob 13 and the spring will cause the jaws to be moved within the tubular member for grasping the article. 1

When the plug 5 is forced intothe tube A it causes an impingement of the terminal of the spring between the wall of the tube and the flat surface 7 of the plug for confining the spring in place.

WVhat is claimed is- In combination with a tube having a recess in the inner end thereof, a rod slidably mounted therein, jaws connected to the rod and extending from the outer end of the i 10 of the said recess and closing the latter, said plug having a head Which overlaps the en of the tube and engages the disk. I

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my oWn, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ERNEST F. RUECKERT.

Witnesses:

GLADYS I. TYsoN, T. C. RUECKERT. 

